Standing Columns

With the U.S. political season now in full swing, some of the candidates are focusing on the idea of the country becoming “energy independent” with such phrases as “America must break the tyranny of oil” or “We can’t allow dictators to enslave the American people."

The first session of the 110th Congress finished in December with few results. Partisan squabbling and the distraction of a presidential election cycle seemed to bring the legislative process to a halt.